Chapter 11

Father still looked worried. I grabbed his hand tightly and smiled brightly as if only happiness lay ahead so he wouldn’t have to worry.

“I just want you to be happy,” he said.

His words made my heart swell. Looking around, I saw my mother sniffing back tears and Louis and Adam sitting with faces that seemed on the verge of tears or resolutely composed.

My family loves me with the deepest affection.

How could I have left such lovely people so quickly in my past life?

Why didn’t I struggle harder?

Feeling like I might cry too, I hurried my father. He nodded, took my hand, and walked with me.

We soon reached Julian. We always stood with Julian on the right and me on the left. Julian had suggested we do the same at the wedding. That way, he wouldn’t have to hold my stone hand.

Julian moved to stand on my right as usual, but I gently placed a hand on his shoulder and stood on his right.

I saw the surprise in Julian’s eyes, but I smiled and extended my hand.

The guests began to murmur.

Usually, the groom stands on the left and the bride on the right at weddings. It wasn’t necessary to insist on this, but if it meant I couldn’t hold his hand, I felt compelled to.

“Your Grace, hold my hand.”

Julian looked down at my hand without a word. He slowly took my hand. When I opened it, I closed it while looking up at him. Although he wore gloves, his hand was much more extensive and thicker than usual.

Someone in the audience gasped. But I didn’t mind.

Julian himself was the person Julian was most afraid of. The person Julian wanted to harm the most was also Julian.

I hadn’t known Julian for long, but that much was clear.

Julian cautiously led me forward, and I strolled, holding his hand. The sound of my wedding dress trailing behind mixed with the music.

“I don’t understand you,” Julian muttered. He seemed confused. Why? I was curious about the expression he was making behind his mask.

“I’m just doing my best.”

He then squinted his eyes before nodding. He seemed momentarily displeased but now appeared fine.

What should I call it? It felt like acceptance or resignation.

Because of that, I couldn’t hear the officiant’s words, and I was worried I had said something wrong.

As we exited, Julian whispered again.

“If you do your best, I will too.”

Those were the words I had been waiting for, so I quietly nodded.

That was the end of it. We didn’t share a kiss of love. We merely exchanged rings that bound us to each other.

Thus, we became a couple through a contract.

* * *

After the wedding, we stood side by side and circulated through the reception. Many guests had come to the wedding.

Among them, the most noticeable was the First Princess, Abigail.

Princess Abigail was a young woman who had just come of age. She had beautifully mixed silver and purple hair.

Instead of enjoying the reception, she was resting in a lounge, so we had to visit her there.

She was, in effect, representing the Emperor at this event.

“Greetings to Princess Abigail, the First Princess.”

Princess Abigail smiled slyly when I greeted her, narrowing her pretty eyes.

“So you’re Yul’s wife? You’re as pretty as the rumors say but seem too wild.”

“Abi.”

Julian immediately intervened to stop her rudeness. But I was more surprised by his affectionate nickname for her. Princess Abigail laughed loudly as I looked at him wide-eyed, showing no regard for propriety.

“Yul and I have known each other since we were children. There were even marriage talks. We might have married if I were just an ordinary noble’s daughter and not the Emperor’s daughter.”

Princess Abigail arrogantly inspected her perfectly manicured nails.

It was improper to speak like that to a married man, especially on his wedding day. No one would blame me if I felt offended.

Indeed, Princess Abigail stared at my face intently, waiting for me to frown.

But I didn’t want to. First, I didn’t want to play into her hands, and second, she was the Emperor’s daughter. Defying the cherished daughter of the Emperor while getting involved in a power struggle wasn’t easy.

“My husband is too good for me.”

I answered obediently. Princess Abigail snorted as if she couldn’t believe it and looked at Julian.

“Your wife doesn’t seem to love you much, does she?”

That was an excessive leap. Julian wouldn’t be hurt by such words. Those were the kinds of remarks that only mattered to couples in love. Yet, for some reason, I wanted to rebut.

“I have great respect for my husband.”

But that was all I could muster. I worried that Julian might think I was crossing a line if I said I loved him.

Princess Abigail laughed, covering her mouth.

“Enough, this isn’t amusing. You can leave now.”

“We will take our leave. It was an honor to meet you.”

As we left the lounge, I let out a big sigh. Julian also seemed to sigh as I heard a breath beside me.

“Why are you sighing, Your Grace?”

“I apologize for the princess. She was raised with much pampering…”

“It’s fine. I’m not angry.”

Does being raised that way excuse her behavior? Honestly, it didn’t feel great, but I cut Julian off because I felt a bit hurt by his explanation. However, Julian added another remark.

“Earlier, that wasn’t like you.”

Was he suggesting I should’ve grabbed the princess by her hair?

Before I could respond, Julian walked ahead. I couldn’t stomp my feet, so I just pouted.

We headed towards my family. The moment they saw me, they all rushed over. Their eyes were shining brightly, like wagging tails.

“Laila, you look so beautiful!”

My whole family showered me with compliments, starting with my mother’s admiration. Smiling, I subtly pulled Julian forward. At that, they quickly turned solemn and exchanged glances.

Naturally, my father was the first to step forward.

“Nice to see you again, Your Grace, Grand Duke Zan. Please take good care of my lacking daughter.”

My father greeted me respectfully. Julian looked down at him and nodded.

“The count’s daughter is wise and has much to teach.”

Julian’s straightforward compliment made me roll my eyes and add petulantly.

“In what way? Because she knows when to hold back, unlike her usual self?”

Julian raised an eyebrow at my bold remark. My father flustered, began to sweat profusely.

“L-Laila. Why are you speaking to His Grace like that…”

“Finally, you seem like yourself.”

“Exactly, I’m just a pretty tomboy.”

Julian put his hand to his forehead. My family, watching nearby, looked about ready to faint. I didn’t know why I suddenly felt so hurt or why my repressed feelings were bursting out.

Such emotions were meaningless in a political marriage. It wasn’t even Julian’s fault. I belatedly shut my mouth and apologized in a small voice.

“I’m sorry…”

But Julian interrupted my apology.

“You can’t call a woman who fights a duel to protect her fiancé’s honor a simple tomboy.”

At his words, I blinked. I fought a duel to show off, but I hadn’t expected Julian to know about it. He didn’t seem like someone interested in such matters.

“You knew?”

“Are you asking if I knew after such a grand display?”

“I thought you wouldn’t know since you don’t care about parties… I assumed you’d be unaware.”

“I have that much interest in my fiancée.”

“Really?”

I felt my mood lift a bit. Julian seemed to notice my change and let out a short sigh.

“Is it settled now? Shouldn’t you talk with your family?”

“Huh? Yes!”

I asked my dazed family if the food was to their taste, how the wedding was, and so on. They, still somewhat out of it, said everything was perfect. During this, my mother pulled me aside and whispered.

“When did you become so close to His Grace?”

“Close? We just had a bit of a fight.”

At my words, my mother smiled faintly. Then she whispered.

“I’m a bit relieved. It seems you’ll get along better than I thought.”

I replied with a smile.

“His Grace is a good man.”

“You’re like a parrot.”

My mother tapped my lips gently with her index finger. I shrugged and laughed bashfully.

After that, the wedding went on without incident. We had invited only a few people, so the guests were a small number of distinguished individuals. People like the rude Kazak Amber weren’t invited in the first place. Of course, there was no way to prevent Princess Abigail from attending.

Princess Abigail seemed very interested in Julian…

Thinking about it made my heart feel oddly uneasy. I frowned slightly and rubbed my chest. Was my illness bothering me again? But my mouth didn’t taste metallic… it felt more like it was drying out.

Even as I pondered this, time passed, and the final procedure of the wedding approached.

The final part of the wedding is the culmination of the ceremony.

The first night together.